Individual Instrument Microphone Positioning

The purpose of this guide is to provide the most common methods for miking individual instruments, useful for audition recordings or when using "spot mics".

Woodwinds

Flute

Place the microphone 2-4 feet in front of the flute.
Aim the microphone in between the lip plate and the left hand of the flautist.
Mic too close to the lip plate will result in an airy sound, too close to the keys will pick up key noise.
Never mic at the end of the flute.

Mic Recommendations:

Dynamic - Shure SM57

LDC - Warm Audio WA 14SP

SDC - Rode NT5, Audix ADX10-FLP,

Clarinet/Oboe

Place the microphone 2-4 feet in front of the instrument.
Aim the microphone at the center of the instrument.
Mic too close to the keys will pick up key noise.
Miking directly at the bell won't pick up the rest of the notes.

Mic Recommendations:

LDC - Warm Audio WA 14SP

SDC - Rode NT5, Audio Technica Pro 37

Bassoon

Place the microphone 3-4 feet away on the player's right side.
Aim the microphone 45 degrees down at the keys.
You can add more microphones if needed such as at the top by the bell.

Mic Recommendations:

LDC - Warm Audio WA 14SP, Blue Bluebird. Rode NT1

SDC - Rode NT5

Bass Clarinet

Place the microphone 2-4 feet in front of the instrument.
Aim the microphone at the center of the instrument.
Mic too close to the keys will pick up key noise.
Miking directly at the bell won't pick up the rest of the notes.

Mic Recommendations:

LDC - Warm Audio WA 14SP, Rode NT1

SDC - Rode NT5

Saxophones

Place the microphone directly in front of the instrument about 18-24 inches.
Aim the microphone in between the bell and the left hand keys.
You can adjust the distance depending on how focused you want the sound.

Mic Recommendations:

Dynamic - Shure SM57, Audix I5

LDC - Blue Bluebird, Rode NT1, Audio Technica AT4040, Warm Audio WA 14SP

SDC - Shure Beta 98H/C

Brass

Because of the directionality of Brass instruments, most microphone placements call for the microphone in front of the bell of the instrument but aimed off axis in order to avoid harshness. In most cases, the distance shown in each picture may be increased to about four feet if you have the space to do so. Also note that dynamics microphones often react better, the closer they are to the instrument.

Trumpet/Flugelhorn

Place the microphone in front of the instrument about 2-4 feet
Aim the microphone so that it is off axis from the bell.
As a shortcut you can think of aiming it at the edge of the bell rather than straight on.

Mic Recommendations:

Dynamic Mic: Shure SM57/58, Audix i5

Condenser: Shure Beta 98 H/C, Rode NT1, Audio Technica AT4040

Horn

Microphone will be placed behind the horn player, often closer to the ground.
Again aim the microphone off axis to avoid harshness.
Desktop mic stands work great for horn

Mic Recommendations:

Condenser Mic: Rode NT1, Audio Technica AT2035/AT4040, Warm Audio WA 14SP

Trombone

Place the microphone in front of the instrument about 2-4 feet
Aim the microphone so that it is off axis from the bell.
As a shortcut you can think of aiming it at the edge of the bell rather than straight on.

Mic Recommendations:

Dynamic Mic: Shure SM57/58

Condenser: Shure Beta 98 H/C, Rode NT1, Audio Technica AT2035/AT4040, Warm Audio WA 14SP

Euphonium

Position the microphone about 2 feet above the bell of the instrument with it aimed at the edge of the bell.
LDC work great for Euphonium and Tuba

Mic Recommendations:

Condenser: Rode NT1, Audio Technica AT2035/AT4040, Warm Audio WA 14SP

Tuba

Position the microphone about 2 feet above the bell of the instrument with it aimed at the edge of the bell.
LDC work great for Euphonium and Tuba

Mic Recommendations:

Condenser: AKG D112, Rode NT1, Audio Technica AT2035/AT4040, Warm Audio WA 14SP

Strings

Violin/Viola

Place the microphone about 3-4 feet away from the instrument.
Aim the microphone so that it is aimed at the point where the bow meets the strings.
You can adjust the position so that it is aimed lower closer to the bridge to affect how bright the sound is.

Mic Recommendations:

LDC - Warm Audio WA 14SP

SDC - Rode NT5

Cello

Place the microphone about 2-3 feet in front of the instrument
Aim the microphone so it is aimed at where the bow meets the strings
You can adjust the position so that it is aimed lower closer to the bridge to affect how bright the sound is.

Mic Recommendations:

LDC - Warm Audio WA 14SP, Rode NT1, Audio Technica AT4040

Bass

Place the microphone about 2-3 feet in front of the instrument
Aim the microphone so it is aimed at where the bow meets the strings
You can adjust the position so that it is aimed lower closer to the bridge to affect how bright the sound is.

Mic Recommendations:

LDC - Warm Audio WA 14SP, Rode NT1, Audio Technica AT4040

Percussion

Mallets (Marimba and Vibraphone)

Mallets can be miked both overhead and underslung depending on the applications.
Overhead is recommended for recordings
Underslung is recommended for competitive applications or situations where space can be an issue such as in a jazz setting.

Mic Recommendations:

Dynamic - Shure SM57, Audix I5

Condenser - Audio Technica AT2035, Rode NT1

Underslung - Dynamic

Shure SM57 in a "bungee sling"

Underslung - Condenser

Audio Technica AT2035 mounted on frame.

Overhead - Condenser

Pair of Rode NT1's

Snare

Place the microphone 18-24 inches above the batter head of the drum.
Aim the microphone in-between the center of the snare and the rim.

Mic Recommendations:

Dynamic - Shure SM57

Timpani

Timpani can be mic'd either individually or in pairs depending on space and mics.

Place the microphone so that is aimed about half way between the center and the rim of the drum.
If recording multiple drums, place the microphone infront of the pair and adjust the distance so that the microphone picks up both drums.

Mic Recommendations:

Dynamic - Shure SM57

Condenser - Rode NT1, Audio Technica T2035/4040, Warm Audio WA 14SP

Single Drum Mic

Drum Pair Mic

Rhythm Section

Piano

Pianos are interesting in that they can be mic'ed differently depending on the sound desired and application.

Mic Recommendations:

SDC - Audio Technica Pro 37, Rode NT5

LDC - Rode NT1, Warm Audio WA 14SP, Audio Technica AT4040

Spaced Pair (Outside)

Two microphones are placed in front of the open lid.
The "high" mic is placed by the hammers.
The "low" mic is placed down by the end of the piano and aimed at the low strings.
You can use SDC or LDC microphones.

Spaced Pair (Inside) LDC

Two microphones are placed inside of the piano aimed down at the harp
The "high" mic is placed closer to the keys.
The "low" mic is placed down by the end of the piano and aimed at the low strings.

Spaced Pair (Inside) SDC

Two microphones are mounted on the inside of the piano mounted to the piano harp.
The "high" mic is placed closer to the keys.
The "low" mic is placed down by the end of the piano and aimed at the low strings.

Acoustic Guitar

Place microphone 8 inches away from and pointing at where the fretboard and the body meet.

Mic Recommendations:

Dynamic - Shure SM57

SDC - Rode NT5, Audio Technica Pro 37

LDC - Rode NT1, Warm Audio WA 14SP

Electric Guitar

Place a dynamic microphone like a Shure SM57 about an inch away from the best sounding speaker cone on the amp.
Adjust the proximity side to side to dial in the desired sound.

Vocals

Singer

Place the microphone about 8 inches away from the singer

Mic Recommendations:

Dynamic - Shure SM58

LDC - Rode NT1, Warm Audio WA 14SP, Audio Technica AT4040

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